RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY CONCEPTS OF EXTREM ITY DEFECTS ENCOUNTERED IN GENERAL-SURGERY

Soft tissue defects of the extremities are infrequent within the spect rum of general surgery and are predominantly found with perfusion diso rders of macro- and microcirculation in the lower extremities. In the upper extremity, they are more frequently seen after i. v. cytostatic drug administration and tumor resections. This article describes the m ost frequent causes of complex defects of the extremities. Common flap s for the reconstruction of these defects and the pathway to decision making are elucidated.